As Of Feburary 2018 The Economic Stress Index is:

3.48

The Economic Stress Index is at 3.48 in Feburary 2018. The lower the index, the better the economy is. The historical average is 7.34 in the 44 years of 1973 through 2016.

Underemployment (the U6) averaged 8.20 the last three months ending with the January jobs report released early Febuary, and Gross Domestic Product (“The Economy”) was 2.49% higher the last quarter compared to the same quarter a year earlier. Household Income, per Sentier Research, was 2.23% higher the last three months (Nov-Dec-Jan) compared to the same three months a year earlier. THE ESI for this month ads up as follows:

8.2 Underemployment is the base number

Deduct 2.49 for the 2.49% year over year positive GDP

Deduct 2.23 for the estimated 2.23% positive Household Income

3.48 remians and thus the Economic Stress Index for Febuary 2018 is 3.48

U6 Explanation

The U-6 counts the regular unemployed (known as the official Unemployment Rate or U-3), plus those marginally attached to the workforce (halfway looking for jobs), plus those who have part time jobs because they can’t find full-time jobs due to the state of the economy. The Economic Stress Index uses a rolling 3-month average of the U-6.